Photos: Jack-O-Lanterns light the night at Descanso Gardens’ Carved event
Just in time for shorter days, beautifully carved pumpkins are lighting up the night on a mile-long path through Camellia Forest and Oak Grove at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge this Halloween season.
Hundreds of pumpkins light up the night at “Carved” at Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge Friday, October 7, 2022. “Carved” on display through October 31 with carved pumpkins, a hay maze, a pumpkin house and more. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
You can almost hear “It’s Time for Dodger Baseball” coming from the Vin Scully tribute pumpkin at “Carved” at Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge Friday, October 7, 2022. “Carved” on display through October 31 with carved pumpkins, a hay maze, a pumpkin house and more. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Day of the Dead lights up the night at “Carved” at Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge Friday, October 7, 2022. “Carved” on display through October 31 with carved pumpkins, a hay maze, a pumpkin house and more. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Hundreds of pumpkins light up the night at “Carved” at Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge Friday, October 7, 2022. “Carved” on display through October 31 with carved pumpkins, a hay maze, a pumpkin house and more. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
A pumpkin and gourd serpent comes out of the water at “Carved” at Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge Friday, October 7, 2022. “Carved” on display through October 31 with carved pumpkins, a hay maze, a pumpkin house and more. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
A great photo op at the pumpkin house at “Carved” at Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge Friday, October 7, 2022. “Carved” on display through October 31 with carved pumpkins, a hay maze, a pumpkin house and more. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Artist Chase Curtis create a pumpkin for “Carved” at Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge Friday, October 7, 2022. “Carved” on display through October 31 with carved pumpkins, a hay maze, a pumpkin house and more. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Artist Ivory Bi works on a Rocky Horror pumpkin for “Carved” at Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge Friday, October 7, 2022. “Carved” on display through October 31 with carved pumpkins, a hay maze, a pumpkin house and more. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Hundreds of pumpkins light up the night at “Carved” at Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge Friday, October 7, 2022. “Carved” on display through October 31 with carved pumpkins, a hay maze, a pumpkin house and more. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Kids work their way through the hay maze at “Carved” at Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge Friday, October 7, 2022. “Carved” on display through October 31 with carved pumpkins, a hay maze, a pumpkin house and more. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Even wood boxes become jack-o-lanterns at “Carved” at Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge Friday, October 7, 2022. “Carved” on display through October 31 with carved pumpkins, a hay maze, a pumpkin house and more. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
It’s not the Twilight Zone, it’s “Carved” at Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge Friday, October 7, 2022. “Carved” on display through October 31 with carved pumpkins, a hay maze, a pumpkin house and more. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
A large Day of the Dead shrine at “Carved” at Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge Friday, October 7, 2022. “Carved” on display through October 31 with carved pumpkins, a hay maze, a pumpkin house and more. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Hundreds of pumpkins light up the night at “Carved” at Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge Friday, October 7, 2022. “Carved” on display through October 31 with carved pumpkins, a hay maze, a pumpkin house and more. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Flowers get a new look at “Carved” at Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge Friday, October 7, 2022. “Carved” on display through October 31 with carved pumpkins, a hay maze, a pumpkin house and more. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
According to Jennifer Errico, marketing manager for Descanso Gardens, this year’s Carved experience features more than three times the number of pumpkin displays as in previous years. “If you loved Carved in previous years, you will love it, even more, this year, we’ve ramped everything up.”
“There are more pumpkins, more lights, and a great new art installation that is UV lit.” Visitors will also enjoy an expanded area near the grove with a hay maze and a walk-through pumpkin house made from pumpkins and gourds by the horticulture staff at the gardens.
Of course, there are still the eye-popping custom-carved 200-pound pumpkins, which are continuously created by artists throughout the event. The artists must constantly create new pumpkins since they only last 4-5 days once they are cut open.
Another problem is squirrels.
The Descanso Gardens squirrels enjoy the carved event just as much as humans, only for a different reason, they like to nibble on the tasty pumpkins. The staff has even tried coating the pumpkins with vinegar without much success.
But their appetite for pumpkin has an upside; it allows visitors to watch the artists at work as they try to keep up with the squirrels’ appetite throughout the event.
